Combined clothes washer and drier



Nov. 20, 1934. P. E. GELDHOF 1,981,501

COMBINED CLOTHES WASHER AND DRIER Filed Dec. 11, 1930 s Sheets- Sheet 1 6 Jo 4 h v 1 w s! I 43 Qj, ;ii"' f a, I T H [z q :7

- P 3 1 25:? E51- 1 Wnnzss 7 1B? .Arromvzrs Nov. 20, 1934. P. E. GELDHOF COMBINED CLOTHES WASHER AND DRIER Filed Dec. 11, 1930 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NO V. 20, 1934. GELDHQF 1,981,501

COMBINED CLOTHES WASHER AND DRIER .Filed Dec. 11, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 \nuun nu INVFNTOR MT/visa BY A TTORNEYS Patented Nov. 20, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT I OFFICE COMBINED CLOTHES WASHER AND DRIER Peter E. Geldhof, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Easy Washing Machine Corporation, Syracuse, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application December 11, 1930, Serial No. 501,570

2 Claims. (01. 210-76) a washing machine, the one here being shown of a dolly type, and a centrifugal drier which may be together operated in a single tub or container or separately if preferred, and may be driven from the same source of power.

Another object of my invention is to provide a new and improved means for disposing of the fluid extracted from the clothes outside of the tub or returning the same to the tub, if desired.

Other objects and advantages relate to the size, shape and arrangement of parts all as will 16 more fully appear from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a top plan view of my device.

Figure 2 is a. section on line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 33 of Figure 2.

Figures 4 and 5 'are fragmentary sections similar to Figure 2 showing modified types of extractor baskets.

Figure 6 is a section on line 66 of Figure 2.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7-'7 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a plan view of a part of the dolly operating mechanism.

Figure 9 is a section through the discharge orifice of the device showing a modified means for closing the same.

It will be understood that other types of washing mechanism other than that shown here may be used in my device, but for the purpose of explaining the same, I have here shown a washing mechanism of the dolly type.

My device comprises a main frame 1 having a centrally disposed internally threaded depending boss 2.

Frame 1 is supported on a plurality, in this case 0 shown as three, of legs 3.

On the under surface of frame 1 is secured a motor 4 having an armature shaft 5. A gear housing 6 is also secured to the under surface of frame 1.

Journaled in one side of casing 6 is a shaft 7 having secured thereto a gear 8. Shaft 7 extends outwardly from casing 6 and is connected to armature shaft 5 by a coupling 9.

A second shaft 10 is also journaled in casing 6 in parallel relation to shaft 7 and carries on one end a worm 11. Shaft 10 also carries a gear 12 in mesh with gear 8.

On the end of shaft 10 opposite to that on which is carried the worm 11 is secured a spiral gear 13.

A shaft 14 is journaled in casing 6 with its axis normal to the axis of shaft 10. A worm gear 15 is secured to shaft 14 and is in mesh with worm 11.

A gear 16 is loosely mounted on the lower end of a vertically extending shaft 17 and is in mesh with gear 13. Shaft 1'7 is positioned in a verthe other end pivotally and eccentrically mounted on gear l5.so that the rotation of gear 15 will cause the reciprocation of segmental gear 20.

The rear end of segmental gear 20 is pivotally mounted on a circular cam member 22 which, in turn, is secured to a shaft 23, shaft 23 being eccentric to the axis of member 22 and being journaled in casing 6. A crank arm 24 is secured to shaft 23.

Pivotally mounted on the-outer end of crank arm 24 is a link 25 which has its other end pivotally mounted on a lever 26. The inner end of lever 26 is pivotally mounted on a 'pivot'pin 2'7 secured to casing 6.

On the upper surface of the outer end of crank arm 24 is pivotally mounted a link 28. On the inner end of link 28 is secured one end of a spiral spring 29, the other end of spring 29 being secured to pivot pin 27.

Spring 29 normally tends to rotate cam 22 to a position where segmental gear 20 will be in mesh with gear 19 so that the reciprocal movement of segmental gear 20 will be transmitted to gear 19 and tubular shaft 18.

When it is desired to move segmental gear 20 out of mesh with gear 19 so that the latter will come to rest, lever 26 is moved about the pivot 2'7 and through link 25 and crank arm 24 will move cam member 22 about the pivot 23, which will carry with it segmental gear 20 taking the same out of mesh with gear 19.

A means hereinafter to be described is provided to hold lever 26 in a position where segmental gear 20 will be out of mesh with gear 19. When lever 26 is released spring 29 will hold segmental gear 20 in mesh with gear 19.

Referring to Figure '7, gear 16 is journaled i n the bottom of casing 6 and has a depending hub 30 in engagement with a thrust ball 31. The upper face of gear 16 carries a female clutch facing 32.

A member 33 is pinned to shaft 1'7 and carries a depending male clutch member 34 adapted to clothes, I provide an extractor basket 57 comprisco-act with clutch member 32 on gear 16. The upper end of member 33 carries a circular flange 35.

When the shaft 1'7 is in the lowered position, clutch member 34 will engage clutch member 32 and the rotary movement of gear 16 will be transmitted to shaft 17.

For the purpose of de-clutching members 32 and 33 so that shaft 17 may come to rest, I provide in casing 6 and slidable vertically therein a stub shaft 36. I

Shaft 36 carries on its upper end a transverse pin 37 which is in engagement with one end of a lever 38, which is pivotally mounted in casing 6 as by a pivot pin 39.

The downward movement of the outer end of lever 38 will cause the upward movement of the inner end of lever 38 carrying with it shaft 36.

Adjacent the lower end of shaft 36 is secured, as by a pin 40, a jawed member 41 which encircles member 33 and is adapted to contact with the under surface of flange 35.

The upper face of member 41 carries a brake lining 42. When the outer end of lever 38 is depressed, shaft 36 will be carried upwardly and will carry member 41 into contact with flange 35 and the further downward movement of the outer end of lever 38 will cause member 33 to be moved upwardly carrying shaft 17 with it and moving clutch member 34 out of engagement with clutch member 32, brake lining 42 aiding to rapidly stop rotation of shaft 17.

A protecting covering 43 having a depending skirt 44 is positioned on main frame 1. A tub or vat 45 is positioned on the upper surface of member 43, a gasket 46 of leather or other appropriate material being interposed between vat 45 and member 43 at the outer edges of the same.

A tubular shaft 47 having an annular flange 48 adjacent its lower end and having a depending externally threaded portion 49 extends upwardly into vat 45 and has its lower end threaded into boss 2 on member 1, a gasket 50 being interposed between the under face of flange 48 and bottom of vat 45, and a second gasket 51 being interposed between the under surface of vat 45 and the upper surface of member 43, so that there may be no possibility of leakage of liquid from vat 45 where member 4'7 passes through the bottom thereof.

Tubular member 18 and shaft 17 pass upwardly through member 47, member 18 terminating a short distance above the upper -end of member 4'1 and shaft 1'? extending upwardly beyond the upper end of member 18, the upwardly extending end of shaft 1'7'being splined, as shown at a.

A conventionally shaped dolly of the multipleblade type is positioned on member 47 and has an internal flange 53 adjacent its upper end which contacts with the upper end of member 4'7.

On the lower end of dolly 52 is secured a tubular guide piece 54 in rotary contact with a guide flange 55 on member 47. v

The upper end of dolly 52 is keyed to member 18, as by a key 56, so that reciprocatory motion of member 18 will be transmitted to dolly 52. A set screw 56' is also provided in dolly 52 to hold it from axial movement.

For the purpose of extracting liquid from the ing an outer imperforate shell 58 having an upwardly and outwardly flaring side wall.

On the upper end of shell 58 is provided an apertured cover 59 secured to the upper end of shell 58 as by rolling.

In the peripheral edge of cover 59 are provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots or apertures 60. A perforated basket 61 is positioned inside of shell 58 and coaxial therewith, the bottom of shell 58 and the bottom of basket 61 being secured together for simultaneous movement as by welding.

Secured in the bottom of basket 61 and positioned centrally thereof is an upwardly extending tubular member 62 adapted to be slidably but not rotatably positioned on the splined end -a of the shaft.

The basket 61 has a central aperture in the upper end in registration with the aperture in cover 59 of shell 58. I

A cover 63 having a central aperture 64 carries adjacent its outer edge a depending trough 65.

The inner edge of trough 65 is in spaced relation to the upper end of shell 58 and is positioned slightly below the slots or apertures 60*in the cover 59 so that liquid expelled through aperture fines a spiral of gradually increasing diameter so as to gradually extend to a greater distance from the shell 58 asit approaches the discharge orifice to provide a trough of graduallyincreasing capacity.

This'construction is of advantage because of the fact that the closer the side of the trough is to the shell the greater will be the effect of centrifugal force on the liquid thrown into the trough and in consequence, the greater will be the initial speed at which the liquid will move around the trough.

The trough being narrowest at the point where it leaves the discharge orifice, the greatest initial speed will be imparted to that liquid which has the farthest to travel to reach the discharge orifice.

' As the trough approaches the discharge orifice, its outer edge is spaced a gradually increasing distance from the basket to accommodate the accumulating liquid, the speed of travel of the liquid being gradually reduced as the distance to be traveled by it becomes less.

The relation of parts is such that the liquid will be'expelled from the discharge orifice with considerable force.

The small end of the trough is indicated at -b-- and the large end at c, Figure 3. The large end c-- of the trough 65 is in communication with a discharge orifice 67, which may extend upwardly and outwardly as shown, or which may extend laterally or downwardly from trough 65.

During certain operations of my device, it is desirable that the orifice 67 be closed so that liquid extracted from the clothes in the basket 61 will be returned to the vat 45.

I have here shown two ways by which this result may be accomplished. One way consists of providing a gate valve 68 controlled by a lever 69, gate valve 68 being adapted to openand close discharge orifice 67 as desired. 4

I have shown on Figure 9 another way of controlling discharge orifice 67 which consists of a cork '70 adapted to close the end of discharge orifice 67.

When a cork, as 70, is used, I prefer to provide a retaining chain 71 for the same. Although it is not here shown, I provide a means for draining the vat 45. I also provide a lead to connect the motor to a source of potential although the same is not here shown.

In Figure 4, I have shown a modified form of extractor basket'5'7 comprising an outer imperforate shell 58' having an upwardly and outwardly flaring side wall with a perforated basket 61' positioned therein.

The 'upper end of shell 58 is bent inwardly to form a partial closure for the upper end of the shell 58 and is secured to the peripheral edge of the upper end of basket 61 as by rolling.

In the bend at the upper end of shell 58', I provide a plurality of circumferentially spaced slots or apertures The remaining parts shown in Figure 4 are similar to those just described and shown on Figures 2 and 3.

In Figure 5, I have shown still another extractor basket 5'7" with an upwardly and outwardly flaring side Wall. In the upper edge of shell 58" are provided a plurality of circumferentially spaced cutaway portions 60" making the upper end of shell 58" castellated.

A perforated basket 61" is positioned in shell 58 and has secured to the periphery of its upper end, as by rolling, a flange '72 which extends outwardly and slightly downwardly into contact with the upper edge of shell 58".

The remaining parts shown in Figure 5 are similar to those described and shown on Figures 2 and 3.

The differences between the device shown in Figures 4 and 5 and the device shown in Figure 2 consist of the way the upper ends of the imperforated shell and the perforated basket areformed and assembled.

Operation When it is desired to use my device, the cover 63 is removed and the extractor 5'7 isalso removed from shaft 1'7.

Water and soap or other washing fluid is then placed in vat 45 up to a level beneath the upper end of dolly 52. The clothes to be washed are then placed in the vat. The extractor 57 may then be replaced, if desired, or it may be left outside of the vat until the completion of the washing of the first batch of clothes. Cover 63 is placed in position.

The motor is then started and the lever 26 is moved to permit the meshing of segmental gear 20 with gear 19 so that oscillating motion will be transmitted to dolly 52. Lever 38 is moved to the position to cause the de-clutching of members 33 and 16 so that shaft 1'7 will be at rest.

Lever 38 extends outwardly through a slot '73 in member 43, slot '73 having an offset portion at its lower end so that when the outer end of lever 38 is depressed, it may be swung laterally into the offset portion of slot '73 to hold it in the down position.

After the clothes have been subjected to the washing operation for the proper length of time, the lever 26 is moved laterally in a slot '74 in member 43 to carry segmental gear 20 out of mesh with gear 19 so that dolly 52 will come to rest.

Slot '74 has an offset portion at one end in which the end of lever 26 may be positioned to hold it in the retracted position.

The clothes are then removed from the bottom of the vat 45 and placed in the basket 61 and a new batch of clothes to be washed is placed in vat 45, the cover 63 is placed in position on vat 45 and levers 26 and 38 are released and allowed to return to the normal operating position.

Shell 58 having an upwardly and outwardly flaring wall, the liquid which will be thrown outwardly from the clothes in basket 61 by centrifugal force, will contact with the wall of shell 58 and move upwardly to and through the apertures 60. Such liquid will be thrown laterally with considerable force and it will also be thrown in the direction of rotation of extractor 57. The liquid thus extracted from the clothes will be thrown into the trough 65 and will flow circumferentially of such trough.

The liquid thus extracted from the clothes being the washing solution, it is preferable that the same be returned to the vat 45 and to accomplished this result, the discharge orifice 67 is closed by the cork 70 or if the device incorporates the valve 68, such valve is moved to a position to close discharge orifice 6'7.

As may best be seen from Figures 2 and 3, the trough 65 is spaced from the extractor 57 and it is also of such a shape that it will not retain inert liquid. Therefore, when the discharge orifice 67' is closed, the liquid extracted from the clothes will drain from trough 65 back into vat 45.

After the washing water has been extracted from the clothes in basket 61, the orifice 6'7 is opened and rinsing water is introduced through the apertures in cover 63, and the top of basket 61.

After this rinsing water is extracted from the clothes by centrifugal force, it will be thrown into trough 65 and will move circumferentially thereof to and through discharge orifice 6'7 and it will be deposited in any convenient receptacle.

To facilitate this operation, a hose may, if desired, be attached to the discharge end of orifice 6'7.

Since the amount of water in trough 65 will gradually increase in the direction of rotation of extractor 5'7, the trough 65, as heretofore explained, has a spiral outer wall and gradually becomes larger and of greater capacity as it approaches the discharge orifice 67. Such an arrangement facilitates very greatly the operation of the device and also provides against the possibility of any of the rinsing or blueing water escaping from the trough 65 back into the vat 45 before it reaches the discharge orifice 67 which would be the case if more liquid were discharged into the trough 65 than could be carried by such trough.

After the rinsing operation, blueing water may be introduced into the basket 61 and after it has been extracted from the clothes, it may be returned to the blueing receptacle in readiness for further use.

After the clothes in basket 61 have been blued they are removed from such basket. The second .batch of clothes may then be transferred from vat 45 to basket 61, a new batch introduced into vat 45 and the rinsing and blueing operation performed for the second batch, while the new batch is being washed. These operations may be performed as often as is desired.

It will be understood that various changes and modifications may be made in the various parts of my device without departing from the spirit of my invention, for although I have shown a specific structure and form and relation of parts as an exemplification oi! an embodiment of my invention, I do not desire to restrict myself to the exact size, shape or arrangement of parts as various changes may be made within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a device of the class described, a vat, a revoluble imperforate basket in the vat having a plurality of circumferentially spaced apertures in the upper end thereof, a perforate basket in the imperiorate basket co-axial. therewith and secured thereto for simultaneous movement, a removable cover for the vat and baskets, a substantially circular trough on the under side of the cover in spaced relation to the imperiorate basket and having one edge beneath the apertures in such basket, an upwardly and outwardly said impertorate basket having a plurality oi apertures, a cover for the vat, said cover also acting as a cover for the perforate basket and having a depending trough extending below the apertures in the imperiorate basket and adapted to receive fluid discharged therefrom, and means for discharging the fluid extracted fromthe clothes in said-periorate basket through said apertures.

PETER E. GELDHOF. 

